Rotary machine with ducted eccentric rotor and sliding stator vane

ABSTRACT

Rotary engines and pumps employing ducted eccentric rotor and one or more reciprocating stator vanes which engage the rotor periphery. Engines may have a central combustion chamber with a spiral rotor duct extending from the combustion chamber to the rotor periphery, air being compressed in the combustion chamber by auxiliary pistons or by a compression duct extending from the rotor periphery. In a pump or hydraulic motor, the rotor has intake and exhaust ducts leading from spaced apertures at the rotor periphery to axial intake and exhaust ports.

United States Patent Nutku I [151 3,693,600 [451 Sept. 26, 1972 ROTARY MACHINE WITH DUCTED ECCENTRIC ROTOR AND SLIDING .STATOR VANE I [72] Inventor: Ata Nutku, Technical University 1.T.U., Gumussuyu, Istanbul, Turkey [22] Filed: Dec. 3, 1970 211 Appl. No.: 94,887

[52] US. Cl. ..l23/8.39, 60/39.61, 418/245 [5 l Int. Cl ..F02b 53/04 [58] Field of Search ..123/8.39, 8.23, 8.43, 8.25, 123/56 BC, 8.35, 8.21; 418/187, 188, 246,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,239,853 9/1917 Walter ..60/39.61

1,047,436 12/1912 OConner ..418/188X 1,044,782 11/1912 Hermanns ..418/245 1,900,784 3/1933 Zint ..418/187 951,762 3/1910 Kinney ..418/139 3,429,301 2/1969 Sandidge ..123/8.35 2,854,928 10/1958 Szczepanek ..418/249 X Primary ExaminerManuel A. Antonakas AttorneyShapiro and Shapiro [5 7] ABSTRACT Rotary engines and pumps employing ducted eccentric rotor and one or more reciprocating stator vanes which engage the rotor periphery. Engines may have a central combustion chamber with a spiral rotor duct extending from the combustion chamber to the rotor periphery, air being compressed in the combustion chamber by auxiliary pistons or by a compression duct extending from the rotor periphery. In a pump or hydraulic motor, the rotor has intake and exhaust ducts leading from spaced apertures at the rotor periphery to axial intake and exhaust ports.

19 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEDsEP2s I972 v 3.693500 sum 3 [1F 3 l ROTARY MACHINE WITII DUCTED ECCENTRIC ROTOR AND SLIDING STATOR VANE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to improved rotary machines and is more particularly concerned with engines and pumps having a ducted eccentric rotor and one or more reciprocating stator vanes.

Rotary machines employing eccentric rotors and cooperating reciprocating stator vanes are well known. Rotary engines in which the rotors are driven by one or more rotor jets are also known, but in general the prior arrangements for driving the rotor by means of jets have been rather complex, inefficient, and impractical.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It is a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved rotary machine suitable for use as an internal combustion engine, steam engine, hydraulic motor, or pump, for example, and in particular, an improved rotary machine of the type having an eccentric ducted rotor and cooperating reciprocating stator vanes.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for driving the rotor of such machines, utilizing the combined kinetic energy of a jet, expansive energy of the working fluid, and the torque component of a spiral duct.

Another object of the invention is to provide an engine of the foregoing type employing a central chamber for supplying fluid to the duct and improved means for compressing air in the chamber.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a unique arrangement foradjusting engine timing.

An additional-object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanism for vane retraction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a unique scavenging structure.

Briefly stated, in accordance with a preferred form, a rotarymachine of the invention comprises a cylindrical stator chamber containing an eccentric rotor, the stator having one or' more reciprocating vanes which cooperate with the rotor to divide the stator chamber into' compartments. The rotor has a central tube or chamber and a duct'leading from the central tube or chamber to the periphery of the rotor. In an engine, gas is compressed in the central tube or chamber and expands through the duct. In a pump, the central tube is separated into intake and exhaust portions, each having a duct leading to the rotor periphery.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be further described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred and exemplary embodiments, similar or corresponding parts being designated by the same reference characters modified by lower case letters and or primes, and wherein:

. FIG. 1 is a transverse sectional view of an engine in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the engine taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view of another embodiment of the engine of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view of a pump or hydraulic motor in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 and 9 are transverse sectional views of the rotor takenalong lines 8-8 and 9-9 of FIG. 7, respectively; and

FIG. 10 is a transverse sectional view of the output gearing taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION I Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, an engine in accordance with the invention, shown for purposes of illustration as an internal combustion engine, comprises a cylindrical stator 10 with a side wall 12 and end walls 14. A central compression cylinder 16 is provided coaxially with the.

chamber 18 of the rotor and is rotatablyjoumaled in the wing bearings 20 of the stator frame 22. An eccentric hub-piston rotor 24, preferably of circular-elliptical cross-sectional configuration as shown in FIG. I, is rotatably mounted upon the compression cylinder 16 within the stator and has its crest positioned to sweep the inner surface 26 of the stator side wall. Sealing strips or rings 28 and 30 are provided at the crest of the rotor and its ends, which sweep the adjacent ends of the stator. Although a single eccentric lobe rotor is shown, multiple rotor lobes or arms may be employed under appropriate circumstances, each of which is eccentric. The rotor 24 has a jet-duct 32, preferably of tapered spiral (or generally involute) shape, extending from duct mouth 34 adjacent to the cylinder 16, which is provided with a peripheral firing port 36 adapted to mate with the duct mouth 34 during a portion of the rotor rotation. The duct curves outwardly along the periphery of the rotor 24, endingin an orifice 38 at the periphery of the rotor rearwardly of the crest and communicating with the stator chamber 18. The rotor can be solid, except where ducting is provided, or if hollowed out, can be filled with circulating water for cooling and increased inertia.

Cylinder 16 has a bore 40 and serves as a compressor cylinder for two opposedly working pistons 42, the pistons moving in and out of the cylinder by means of rods 44 and cranks 46 driven by worm gearing 48, the worms being mounted upon shafts 50 driven by helicoidal gears 52 and 54 from the engine shaft 56. The engine shaft is driven from the rotor 24 by means of gear 58'f1xed to one of the trunnions 59 of the rotor and a cooperating gear 60 fixed to the engine shaft 56.

In order to provide combustion in cylinder 16, air is sucked into the space between pistons 42 through a non-return air valve 62 on one of the pistons, and at the end of the compression stroke of the pistons, fuel is injected into this space by a fuel injector through passage 64, the tube 66 of the fuel injector providing a steady supply into the injector.

Combustion is timed to take place when the upper edge of the duct mouth 34 of the rotor 24 is aligned with the lower edge of the firing port 36 of the cylinder 16. In order to permit the use of different fuels and to permit adjustment of the timing, the compression cylinder 16 can be rotated to adjust the angular position of the firing port 36 by means of gearing 68, to

vary the ignition period in compartment 70 defined between'the trailing face of the rotor 24 and a vane 72 slidable diametrically in a recess 74of the stator and urged against the rotor by spring 76.

The rotor is driven by the combined action of the jet air orifice 38, the expansion of the fluid in chamber 70, and the torque component of the spiral duct 32. Gases ahead of the rotor are forced out of the exhaust port 78 and through the exhaust passage 80. At the moment that the piston rings 28 reach the vane 72, the'vane is retracted by a single-tooth gear 82, which engages a cooperating notch 84 on the vane and which is driven synchronously 'with the rotor by means of gearing 86 coupled to the engine shaft 56, thereby to reduce wear onthe rings 28 and the end of the vane.

I FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a second embodiment of the invention. The stator a is provided with a pair of diametrically sliding vanes 72a and 72a. The vanes are kept in engagement with the outer periphery of the rotor by constant air pressure in the vane recesses 74a and 74a from a pressurized source (not shown), air tightness being assured by rings 87. A central compression/combustion cylinder 16a is rotatably journaled upon the stator coaxially with the rotor 24a and has a combustion niche or chamber 88 with a firing port 36a on its periphery. Exploding gases in niche 88 rush through firing port 360 into the spiral jet-duct 32a, ejecting from the orifice 38a into the stator compartment 70a. Exhaust gases remaining from a previous stroke in compartment 90 are pushed out of exhaust port 800 by theleading face of the rotor 24a, and when the rings 28a pass over the top center, the trailing face of the piston produces a vacuum in compartment 92, sucking vaporized fuel into this compartment through intake port 94 of intake passage 95 while the leading face of the rotor compressesvaporized fuel (drawn in from the previous stroke) into the combustion niche 88 by means of a compression duct 96 extending from the leading face of the rotor into the niche 88 through a quadrant port 98, which spans a certain angular portion of the stroke as the compression duct passes through compartment 92.

When the rotor 24a rotates further, compression duct 96 is closed, as it passes port 98, and ignition takes place, either by means ofa sparkplug 100 or an injector placed on the transverse wall of the niche 88, at the instant when mouth 34a of the spiral jet-duct 32a begins to face the firing port 36a. Before the compression duct 96 leaves compartment 90, a scavenging air jet from a pressurized air source passing through pipe 101, space 102, and pipe 103 clears the duct 96, the niche 88 being cleared by means of pipe 104. Any adjustment in timing can be made by turning the cylinder 16a by means of gearing 68a.

FIGS. 5-10 illustrate a pump or hydraulic motor embodiment of the invention. For pumping, the rotor 24b (preferably of circular cross-section) is rotated by means of a motor (not shown) attached to shaft 56b.

Rotation of the rotor causes change of volumes of the I compartments 70b and 90b atopposite sides of vane 72b, which may contact the rotor by means of a curved sleeper 106 pivotally mounted on the end of the vane by a ball and socket joint, the ends of the sleeper being rounded to avoid obstruction of the rings 28b. Air pressure and/or a spring may urge the vane against the ro- I01.

The rotor has a suction duct l08'extending from an axial port 110 and leading to a rectangular peripheral aperture 112. A delivery duct 114 extends from an axial port 1 16 to a rectangular peripheral aperture 1 18. During clockwise rotation of the rotor as seen in FIG. 5, a vacuum is produced in compartment 70b, and fluid is drawn into this compartment from the suction port '110 through duct 108, flowing out from aperture 112 into compartment 708. By the clockwise rotation of the rotor, the fluid which has been drawninto compartment 90b on the previous stroke will be forced into delivery duct 114 through aperture 118 and then will be pumped out of the axial delivery port 116. When this embodiment of the invention is employed as a hydraulic motor, pressurized fluid is supplied at port 116 and discharged from port 110.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes can be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. A rotary machine comprising a stator chamber, an eccentric rotor in said chamber with a surface thereof sweeping an associated surface of the chamber, a reciprocating vane extending inwardly of the chamber into engagement with the rotor, said rotor having a duct extending openly from an axial region thereof to an aperture at the periphery thereof, a chamber at said axial region of the rotor defined by a stationary cylinder coaxial with the axis of rotation of said rotor, and means for periodically providing communication between'said cylinder and said duct, the last-mentioned means comprising a port through the wall of said cylinder.

2. A machine in' accordance with claim 1, said chamber at the axial region of said rotor having piston means operable therein to compress a gas therein to be released through said port.

3. A machine in accordance with claim 2,. further comprising means for turning said cylinder to adjust the orientation of said port.

4. A machine in accordance with claim 2, said piston means comprising a pair of opposed pistons having means for moving the same along .the axis of said cylinder.

5. A machine in accordance with claim 4, one of said pistons having an air inlet valve therein.

6. A machine in accordance with claim 4, further comprising means for injecting fuel between said pistons.

7. A machine in accordance with claim 4, said rotor being coupled to an output shaft and said means for moving said pistons also being coupled to said output shaft and being operated synchronously with said rotor.

8. A rotary machine, comprising a stator chamber having a rotor therein, a compression chamber within the rotor adjacent to the axis of rotation thereof, means for compressing gas into said compression chamber, a smoothly curved spiral section duct extending openly from the vicinity of said compression chamber through said rotor to said stator chamber, and means for periodically providing communication between said compression chamber and said duct during rotation of said rotor, said duct constituting means for driving said rotor by the combined kinetic energy of a jet of gas emitted therefrom, the expansive energy of the gas emitted therefrom, and the torque component of the gas in said duct.

9. A machine in accordance with claim 8, wherein said stator chamber is cylindrical, said rotor is an eccentric smoothly curved cylinder, and wherein a reciprocating abutment extends into said stator chamber and engages said rotor.

10. A machine in accordance with claim 9, said stator chamber having an exhaust port at one side of said vane; I

11. A machine in accordance with claim 9, said rotor being coupled to an output shaft and said vane having means coupled to said output shaft for retracting the vane at a predetermined time during the rotation of said rotor.

12. A machine in accordance with claim 91, said stator chamber being a circular cylinder with end walls adjacentto opposite ends of said rotor, said rotor having sealing means between its periphery and the. side wall of said stator chamber and having sealing means between its opposite ends and the adjacent end walls of the stator chamber.

13. A rotary machine comprising a stator chamber, an eccentric rotor in said chamber with a surface thereof sweeping an associated surface of the chamber, a reciprocating vane extending inwardly of the chamber into engagement with the rotor, said rotor having a duct extending openly from an axial region thereof to an aperture at the periphery thereof, said rotor having a compression duct extending from a leading face thereof to the axial region thereof for compressing gas toward said axial region by rotation of said rotor, a combustion chamber at said axial region provided with a peripheral port, and means: for causing said port to communicate with said compression duct during a portion of the rotation thereof.

14. A machine in accordance with claim 13, there being a pair of said vanes subdividing the stator chamber, said stator chamber having an exhaust port and an intake port at opposite sides of one of said vanes.

IS. A machine in accordance with claim 13, said combustion chamber being formed in a cylinder coaxial with said rotor and having means for adjusting the orientation of said port.

16. A machine in accordance with claim 13, said combustion chamber having a scavenging jet coupled thereto at a predetermined time during the rotation of the rotor. I

17. A rotary machine, comprising a stator chamber having a rotor therein a combustion chamber within the rotor adjacent to the axis of rotation thereof, means for compressing gas into said combustion chamber, a duct extending openly from the vicinity of said combustion chamber through said rotor to said stator chamber at a trailing face of said rotor, and means for periodically providing communication between said combustion chamber and said duct during rotation of said rotor, said compressing means comprising a compression duct extending from a leading face of said rotor to the region of said combustionvchamber-for compressing gas toward said combustion chamber by rotation of said rotor, and a port coupling said compression duct-to said combustion chamber during a portion of the rotation of said rotor, whereby gas may be compressed into said combustion through said compression duct and thereafter released from said combustion chamber through the first-mentioned duct to drive said rotor.

18. A rotary machine comprising a cylindrical stator chamber, an eccentric circular cylinder rotor in said chamber with a surface thereof sweeping an associated surface of the chamber, and a reciprocating vane extending inwardly of the chamber into engagement with the rotor and having a pivoting member at the end thereof with a cylindrical surface matching and engaging the periphery. of the rotor, said rotor having axial intake and exhaust ports at opposite ends thereof and having a pair of ducts extending openly from said ports,

respectively, to apertures at the periphery of said rotor at opposite sides of the surface thereof which sweeps the surface of said stator chamber.

19. A rotary machine, comprising a stator chamber having a rotor therein, a compression chamber within the rotor adjacent to the axis of rotation thereof, means for compressing gas into said compression chamber, a duct extending openly from the vicinity of said compression chamber through said rotor to said stator chamber, and means for periodically providing communication between said compression chamber and said duct during. rotation of said rotor, said compression chamber comprising a stationary cylinder coaxial with the axis of rotation of said rotor and said means for periodically providing communication between said compression chamber and said duct comprising a port through the wall of said cylinder. 

1. A rotary machine comprising a stator chamber, an eccentric rotor in said chamber with a surface thereof sweeping an associated surface of the chamber, a reciprocating vane extending inwardly of the chamber into engagement with the rotor, said rotor having a duct extending openly from an axial region thereof to an aperture at the periphery thereof, a chamber at said axial region of the rotor defined by a stationary cylinder coaxial with the axis of rotation of said rotor, and means for periodically providing communication between said cylinder and said duct, the last-mentioned means comprising a port through the wall of said cylinder.
 2. A machine in accordance with claim 1, said chamber at the axial region of said rotor having piston means operable therein to compress a gas therein to be released through said port.
 3. A machine in accordance with claim 2, further comprising means for turning said cylinder to adjust the orientation of said port.
 4. A machine in accordance with claim 2, said piston means comprising a pair of opposed pistons having means for moving the same along the axis of said cylinder.
 5. A machine in accordance with claim 4, one of said pistons having an air inlet valve therein.
 6. A machine in accordance with claim 4, further comprising means for injecting fuel between said pistons.
 7. A machine in accordance with claim 4, said rotor being coupled to an output shaft and said means for moving said pistons also being coupled to said output shaft and being operated synchronously with said rotor.
 8. A rotary machine, comprising a stator chamber having a rotor therein, a compression chamber within the rotor adjacent to the axis of rotation thereof, means for compressing gas into said compression chamber, a smoothly curved spiral section duct extending openly from the vicinity of said compression chamber through said rotor to said stator chamber, and means for periodically providing communication between said compression chamber and said duct during rotation of said rotor, said duct constituting means for driving said rotor by the combined kinetic energy of a jet of gas emitted therefrom, the expansive energy of the gas emitted therefrom, and the torque component of the gas in said duct.
 9. A machine in accordance with claim 8, wherein said stator chamber is cylindrical, said rotor is an eccentric smoothly curved cylinder, and wherein a reciprocating abutment extends into said stator chamber and engages said rotor.
 10. A machine in accordance with claim 9, said stator chamber having an exhaust port at one side of said vane.
 11. A machine in accordance with claim 9, said rotor being coupled to an output shaft and said vane having means coupled to said output shaft for retracting the vane at a predetermined time during the rotation of said rotor.
 12. A machine in accordance with claim 9, said stator chamber being a circular cylinder with end walls adjacent to opposite ends of said rotor, said rotor having sealing means between its periphery and the side wall of said stator chamber and having sealing means between its opposite ends and the adjacent end walls of the stator chamber.
 13. A rotary machine comprising a stator chamber, an eccentric rotor in said chamber with a surface thereof sweeping an associated surface of the chamber, a reciprocating vane extending inwardly of the chamber into engagement with the rotor, said rotor having a duct extending openly from an axial region thereof to an aperture at the periphery thereof, said rotor having a compression duct extending from a leading face thereof to the axial region thereof for compressing gas toward said axial region by rotation of said rotor, a coMbustion chamber at said axial region provided with a peripheral port, and means for causing said port to communicate with said compression duct during a portion of the rotation thereof.
 14. A machine in accordance with claim 13, there being a pair of said vanes subdividing the stator chamber, said stator chamber having an exhaust port and an intake port at opposite sides of one of said vanes.
 15. A machine in accordance with claim 13, said combustion chamber being formed in a cylinder coaxial with said rotor and having means for adjusting the orientation of said port.
 16. A machine in accordance with claim 13, said combustion chamber having a scavenging jet coupled thereto at a predetermined time during the rotation of the rotor.
 17. A rotary machine, comprising a stator chamber having a rotor therein a combustion chamber within the rotor adjacent to the axis of rotation thereof, means for compressing gas into said combustion chamber, a duct extending openly from the vicinity of said combustion chamber through said rotor to said stator chamber at a trailing face of said rotor, and means for periodically providing communication between said combustion chamber and said duct during rotation of said rotor, said compressing means comprising a compression duct extending from a leading face of said rotor to the region of said combustion chamber for compressing gas toward said combustion chamber by rotation of said rotor, and a port coupling said compression duct to said combustion chamber during a portion of the rotation of said rotor, whereby gas may be compressed into said combustion through said compression duct and thereafter released from said combustion chamber through the first-mentioned duct to drive said rotor.
 18. A rotary machine comprising a cylindrical stator chamber, an eccentric circular cylinder rotor in said chamber with a surface thereof sweeping an associated surface of the chamber, and a reciprocating vane extending inwardly of the chamber into engagement with the rotor and having a pivoting member at the end thereof with a cylindrical surface matching and engaging the periphery of the rotor, said rotor having axial intake and exhaust ports at opposite ends thereof and having a pair of ducts extending openly from said ports, respectively, to apertures at the periphery of said rotor at opposite sides of the surface thereof which sweeps the surface of said stator chamber.
 19. A rotary machine, comprising a stator chamber having a rotor therein, a compression chamber within the rotor adjacent to the axis of rotation thereof, means for compressing gas into said compression chamber, a duct extending openly from the vicinity of said compression chamber through said rotor to said stator chamber, and means for periodically providing communication between said compression chamber and said duct during rotation of said rotor, said compression chamber comprising a stationary cylinder coaxial with the axis of rotation of said rotor and said means for periodically providing communication between said compression chamber and said duct comprising a port through the wall of said cylinder. 